A RECORD OF SUCCESS. FIRST CLASS SHOOTING.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 45, 22 February 1908, Page 5

A RECORD OF SUCCESS. FIRST CLASS SHOOTING.

WELLINGTON N AVALS' CAMP, j The Wellington Naval&' ramp at Mahanga I Jay will bo broken up to-night, and a summary of the work of the past fortnight was obtained by a Post rc'porter fiom tho authorities this morning. The shooting, it was stated, has been most satisfactory, but the corps has not been able to complete the work owing to the fact that the smoke from the bush fires rendered shooting in tho harbour unsafe. Artillery practice is not allowed to be can-led out unless it can bo seen whero the last riccochet will land, and the smoko in the harbour was so dense as to render that impossible towards the conclusion of the camp. I All the big B.L. gun practice has been fired, and tho firing of the 6 and 12pound practice has yet to be fired — four series of 6 and two of 12-pound. This will bo carried out at the first oppor- J tunity. Tho results so far were as fol- ] lovs : — | First series (6-in 8.L.), under Captain j Monzies, 12 rounds ; time, 4m in. 43sec, 10-hits, figure of merit, 1.05, or first class. Second series {under Lieut Sloman), one gun, six rounds, smin., pix hits, figure of merit, 1.23. Third series (under Lieut. Denniston), ono gun, six rounds, smin 26scc, six hits, figuro of merit, 1.08. Tho mean range was 4250 yards. The avoiago figure cf merit for tho company therefore stands at 1.13, or first clpsd. The standard required to obtain first class \s 7, so it will bo scon from the abovo figures that tho company ha 3 secured a really good margin. * Tho company has now >a hfcienglh of 120, and the average attendance throughout tho camp' has been remarkably good — better than in previous years. Tho attendance works out at an average of 112 ouu of tho possible 120, of whom there are three men sick, and two men out of the district. All tho men have been examined in gunnery, depression, range finding, signalling, gun laying, etc., with the following satisfactory results: — Ninety men have passed in gunnery, five in signalling, and fifteen in depression range-finding. Tho gun-laying examinations havo produced what is said to be a remarkable result. In the past it was regarded as usual only to get about ten per cent of tho strength of a company to qualify as gun-layers, but in this company 37 out of 120 mon, or a percentage of about 30 per cent, nave passed. As to the shooting, tho accuracy achieved at such a long rango was regarded aB excellent, and so far, apparently it has not been excelled by any corps other than the Petono. Navals. The discipline throughout the camp has been excellent. The instruction has been given by the R.N.Z.A. instructors under Sergt.-Major M'Donald. An intrcsting feature of this year's camp was that it was carried out in conjunction with two other camps — the R.N.Z.A. and the recently-formed corps known as No. 3 Company of the j Garrison Military Division, which have | strength of about 37. It is divided | into two sections, one for electric lighting and the other for engine driving. The electric lighting section manipulates searchlights, dynamos, and instruments connected with the lighting, while the other section drive the engines which supply the power to the dynamos. Also there ia a small signalling section, tho members of which are employed to man the communications, telephones, etc., and are also trained in "flag wagging" in cas,e the telephone system breaks down. Up to the present, said a military expert to a Post reporter, it has been consideied that it is almost impossible to train volunteers to' carry out the technical work of electric lighting, but tho success achieved by No. 3 Company has gone a long way to dispel that idea. There is no doubt that if you select men of the right stamp they can bo made really efficient if assisted by a few skilled specialists. For engine driving, for instance, what wo require are mechanics out of the shops. This requirement has been filled, and for tho electrical work men have joined who are of a scientific bent and take a grea'u interest in the work.

Messrs. Macdonald, Wilson nnd Co., in conjunction with Dalffoty and Co. Ltd. will soli at the stables, Abel Smith-street, on tho sth March, under instructions from Mr. H. Ivory, liquidator of Ljons, Ltd , a hvor.v plant, comprising 60 carriaojfi and light harness horses, 10 landau?, 5 four and six liorso brakes, 40 sets double and pinjflo harness, Kin=, buofpioi, wafftfonutte-, dog carts, and sundries. Fuller details am given in the advcrtuomt-nl appearing m our rail ion column, mid lion. On Wednesday next, a(, their rooini the firm will ball household fuvnishings, contents of n eoveivroomcd \hfiisa, s^moved for. convenicfiqq oj £%Le,